The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1887-09-22
The ''ROush" Experience In Belfast Of a State
Constable and q Trial JuStice

Last spring the store of X. Gilmore & Co., in
Bulnham was entered by a burglar and he was ar
rested in Benton by Geo. S. Stevenson, deputy
sheriff, and lodged in Augusta Jail. 1t was dccid-
ell to transfer him to Waldo county where the
crime of burglary committed and accordingly
Mr.. Stevenson transferred him. lie brought him
through on the last train Friday night, and not
wishing to have custody of the prisoner all night.
as he would have if he stopped in Burnham, he
telegraphed 4. w. Fletcher, trial justice, to come
to Belfast the train. Tie did So and after the
hearing the prisoner was taken to the jail. 1t so
happened that both Mr. Wa,tsworh and his turn
key were attending entertainment in Belfast
Opera House and Mr.. Stevenson took his prisoner
there, handcufed to him, searching for the turnkey.
The sight was unusual and attracted the attention
OF many and do doubt Mr.. Stevenson was then
"spotted' as an officer. He finally committed his
prisoner and started with Mr.. Fletcher to hunt up
hotel. They called at and were turned
away, being told that the house was full. They
were very uncivily treated and not even directed
to another. They called at another house and
were again turned away. At still another they
met the same treatment, and at another, though
the light was burning in the hallway, no amount Of
knocking would induce the landlord to come to
the door. They had now become rather desperate
and applied to the police to lock them up for the
night In all the city there was no place where
they could eat or Sleep and even the cold hospital
ity of the county Jail was welcome to them. They
finally went to the Revere House and did get per
mission to sit in the office all night. During the
night tough had followed them and about two
O'Clock in the morning Mr. Stevenson was awak-
ened from his sleep in chair by rough ana
\
up he saw that Captain Fletcher had already obey
ed the uncercmonious invitation OF the tough,
who called himself skinner" and gone out.
Come, - YOU Amt you going to git. III break
every bone in your body if you don't
leave this house." skinner exclaimed Mr..
Stevenson replied that it was a public house and
he reason why he should leave. With
oaths and threats skinner stepped t. the desk
drew revolver and cooking it thrust it into his
pocket and told Mr.. Stevenson to leave, saying,
''You - State Constable have spotted you
and you leave this room at once Mr.. Stevenson
slowly retired to the middle of the street, still fol
lowed by "Skinner." Mr.. Stevenson thought he
had as much right in the streets as this hummer
and stood his ground. ">kinncr'' now began to
abate his WRATH though lie informed Mr.. Steven
son that if he did not leave the town he wouid
raise q mot md mNroeg him. After more talk Mr.
;. went back to the hotel Office where he stopped
the remainder Of the night. while Cant. Fletcher
, ,.
P'sSe" 'e RESI- oi 'ie fi@h' III quarters ho' luhe
as popular as the Revere House, but quite us
pleasant to him ftcr his sevore exnericncc Cant
i'
Fletcher was subject to further insults i'll the
morning, when with Mr.. stevenson he took the
,ri, fo.h or,
'. ~ '''.
The foregoing statements were obtained from
Messrs Stevenson and Fletcher the latt,ra we'll
,, , .,
A''"" anu respected clllZeii OF I'uihiiis'il ana 90
not differ materially from the current street gossip
The RIM crowd tell n somewhat di tt,ront st,rv Int
:; a., : :: wy
III VIZ i'' ~, !. Is coniiiniilort OF me aboSe, anu
supiess ne i"live lof the outrageous treatment
" H T .i.ec s ei.e.i.en W"!e sup!ecten
"a ui .i''i ~ iitelN ieMc" l-'h'oii
e!H III io:'o ~ .iie ,ieitt"ict MI. 9teH e,''h
NJ ieIeAei ~ 'iie heNere iiouat on ffl'iay
nisnt, - -"'tJo! says otcs ehaoii an" ietc"f